April 29, 2018 | Tom Johnson | Eastertide | April 29, 2018

Jesus’ proclamation in John 10 that “I have other sheep that are not of this fold” becomes vividly real when the Spirit directs Philip to catch up with the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot (Acts 8). Philip is doing what Jesus, in the upper room, had told his followers to do: to see lost coins and lost sheep, and move toward them with the heart of God. This is a familiar theme: “Leave the friendly confines of what is comfortable and familiar – and go.” And just like those early followers of Jesus who didn’t “go” until persecution in Jerusalem got them up and out and “going,” we’re also challenged by the “going.”